Uzbekistan–Italy: A long-term strategic partnership aimed at sustainable growth

On May 28-29, the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, will pay an official visit to Uzbekistan. This visit marks a significant milestone in the modern history of Uzbek–Italian relations, which began in March 1992. Shortly after the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the Embassy of Italy opened in Tashkent, and in 1998 Uzbekistan inaugurated its diplomatic mission in Rome.

Since 2021 and 2023, respectively, honorary consulates of Uzbekistan have been operating in Florence and Milan, contributing to the strengthening and expansion of people-to-people and economic diplomacy.

In recent years, the interaction between the two nations has gained new momentum. On June 8-9, 2023, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid an official visit to Italy. As a result of this visit, a Joint Declaration on establishing a strategic partnership between the two countries was adopted.

Subsequently, on November 9-11 of the same year, President of Italy Sergio Mattarella paid an official visit to Uzbekistan.

The political dialogue is being actively maintained at the highest level. In December 2019 and September 2021, the Foreign Ministers of Uzbekistan and Italy exchanged visits, and in May 2024, they met again in Rome on the sidelines of the 3rd Ministerial Conference “Italy – Central Asia”. It is noteworthy that Rome was the first among European capitals to initiate this ministerial-level dialogue with Central Asia back in 2019.

In addition, the foreign ministries of the two countries regularly hold political consultations.

Interparliamentary relations are also steadily developing. Since 2011, parliamentary groups in the Legislative Chamber and Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan have been operating to facilitate cooperation with the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Parliament of Italy. In 2012, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament. In April 2023, an “Italy–Central Asia” friendship group was also established in the Italian Parliament.

A parliamentary delegation from Italy, led by Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and Honorary President of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Italy, Pier Ferdinando Casini, participated in the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, held on April 5-9, 2025, in Tashkent.

Uzbekistan and Italy also maintain close cooperation within the framework of international organizations and associations such as UN, OSCE, EU, and others. Italy supports Uzbekistan’s efforts to accede to the World Trade Organization and to conclude an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union. The sides are also actively engaged in the framework of the “Italy–Central Asia” dialogue, which is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation.

Trade and economic relations between Uzbekistan and Italy have shown steady growth. The volume of mutual trade increased from USD 172.2 million in 2017 to nearly USD 438 million in 2024. This growth has been significantly supported by the Most Favoured Nation trading regime in force between the two countries, as well as by the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), of which our country became a beneficiary in 2021.

The Bilateral Intergovernmental Working Group on Trade, Economic, and Industrial Cooperation and Export Credits, which has been operating since 1992, also plays an important role in advancing economic cooperation and expanding bilateral collaboration.

Ahead of the official visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Italy in June 2023, a Uzbekistan–Italy Business Forum was held in Rome, attended by more than 200 entrepreneurs and companies from both countries. As a result of the forum, 38 investment agreements, 13 technological partnership agreements, and 13 export contracts were signed, with a total value of EUR 9.2 billion.

During his visit, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev also met with the heads of Italy’s leading companies and industrial associations. This meeting was held in Milan in the format of a roundtable discussion.

On September 7–8, 2023, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry of Italy, Francesco Lollobrigida, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Edmondo Cirielli, participated in the International Conference on Food Security held under the auspices of FAO in Samarkand.

Later, in October 2024, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, Alisher Shukurov, met with the Minister of Agriculture of Italy, Francesco Lollobrigida in Rome.